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11 PM Having run four hours with a fair breeze.

 The following day entered the S.W. Pass, bringing us at the Balize. This is a strange looking place, about under water; & the

residence of the Pilots who have an operation in common and ^ who appear to be in very good circumstances. Independents of their beautiful pilot boats, they have very pretty pleasure boats. The houses are built of wood, well furnished, & there are Torners or look out houses to see the approach of shipping. The place is a perfect Swamp, but the residents will not allow that it is as unhealthy as New Orleans. Perhaps on account of its vicinity to the Sea breezes; but the weather was now getting warm - the Mosquitos in abundance & the only hunting & fishing that of Alligators. sentence crossed out At great expense & trouble the good folks of Balize have made a levee or break water along the shore & to form a path, scooping up the mud from behind the lands to form the said levee. "We were most hospitably received by Capt Taylor he told us long & interesting aneobs? of Lafitte the Pirate of the Gulf, and of Du Puytrtns one who had the reputation of a Sea rover by whom he had